How to Help Someone During a Heart Attack

When a person suffers a heart attack, time is of the essence. Getting treatment fast could save a life. On today’s Health Minute, emergency physician Dr. Troy Madsen explains how to quickly identify a heart attack and what you should do until help arrives.

Dr. Troy Madsen explains how to quickly identify a heart attack and what you should do until help arrives.">

Interview Transcript

Announcer: The Healthy Minute, produced by University of Utah Health.

Interviewer: What should you do if somebody's having a heart attack? Emergency room physician Dr. Troy Madsen, what is your advice?

Dr. Madsen: Well, my advice, if someone's having a heart attack, typically this is someone who's going to come to you and just say, "Hey, I feel like someone's sitting on my chest." This person may look really sweaty. They may be nauseated. These are all things that should make you concerned for a heart attack. You may be tempted just to get them in the car, drive them to the hospital. But you want to get help as quickly as possible. Call 911. Get help there.

While you're waiting, you can give this person an aspirin, a full strength, 325 milligram aspirin. It sounds simple, but it really makes a big difference in preventing the heart attack from getting worse and even treating what's already happened. So the keys here are get help there, call 911, give aspirin. It may sound simple, but it makes a big difference in saving this person's heart.

Announcer: To find out more about this and other health and wellness topics, visit thescoperadio.com.

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